Rochester Fringe Festival returning with some past favorites among 500-plus events
Rochester's Fringe Festival, like others around the world of its ilk, is typically about artistic offerings of something fresh, new and different.
But what may be most appreciated for the 2022 version of the Fringe Festival is this: Some old standards, lost during the pandemic, are coming back.
First, there will be the two-night performance at Parcel 5 of the Flying Españas, a longtime aerial acrobatic troupe that will be mixing heavy metal with trapeze derring-do and even a motorcycle. Rochester's Fringe is known in the festival world for its outdoor large-scale events on its opening weekend − a tradition lost since the onset of the pandemic. (The 2020 Fringe went virtual because of Covid-19.)
Also, the highly popular Spiegeltent is scheduled to return. The tent has been a host of marquee Fringe shows. The tent features stained-glass windows, mirrors, a velvet-draped ceiling and a vintage bar and booths, but, of course, was not part of the 2020 remote festival. It was scheduled to return last year, but visa issues arose for its planned trip from Belgium. An Italian circus tent took its place.
And Bandaloop, the aerial dancers − there is a good amount of above-ground theatrics at this year's festival − are scheduled to return. Bandaloop thrilled crowds at the very first local Fringe Festival, with its synchronized choreography dangling from a downtown high-rise.
On Monday, festival organizers unveiled portions of the line-up for the festival, scheduled for more than 30 venues from Sept. 13 through Sept. 24. This is the eleventh local Fringe Festival.
"We are absolutely thrilled to be able to offer such a diverse array of shows this year," said Rochester Fringe Festival Producer Erica Fee. "The energy felt throughout the city during the 12 days of Fringe is truly incomparable."
More than 500 performances and events − music, drama, dance, humor, pathos, social commentary, and occasionally bawdy fun − are scheduled for the 12-day fete. Tickets are now available at rochesterfringe.com.
Among the events scheduled:
∙ The Flying Españas on Parcel 5. Billed as an "adrenaline-pumping world premiere that fuses feats of daring with death-defying acrobatics and heavy metal," the aerial troupe will perform on Sept. 16 and Sept. 17.
∙ The U.S. premiere tour of "C’est Pas Là, C’est Par Là" (It’s Not Here, It’s Over Here)from immersive artist Juhyung Lee. "Inspired by a pro-democracy rally in Seoul, Lee and renowned art collective Galmae have created a collective arts experience that involves the community working together to unravel five kilometers of string," according to Fringe organizers.
∙ A new variety show, called "Cirque du Fringe: Afterglow" and created and directed by Fringe favorite Matt Morgan. He and Heidi Brucker Morganwill have 13 performances of the show at the Spiegeltent. (The crowd-pleasing "Silent Disco" also returns to the Spiegeltent.)
∙ Bandaloop's performance will be September 23 and 24 on the side of 21-story Five Star Plaza at 100 Chestnut Street. Crowds can watch from Martin Luther King, Jr. Park.
The festival is modeled on the Edinburgh Scotland Fringe Festival, which started in 1947 and has been the seed of hundreds of similar events around the world and in the United States.
Contact Gary Craig at gcraig@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at gcraig1.
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This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Fringe Festival 2022 in Rochester NY returns with 500-plus events
